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The Congress today termed as "extremely serious" the allegations that Hurriyat leaders received funds from across the border and called for strong action as it involves national security.

AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also hit out at the central and the Jammu and Kashmir governments saying there has never been such a rapid, accelerated and tragic decline in governance in the state as has been in the last 36 months.

"It is extremely serious. It is gross, brazen and blatant and deserves the strongest action in the shortest possible time and in the most effective manner. This undermines national security directly and completely," he said.

The Congress leader, however, trained his guns on the BJP saying its leaders are preaching on Kashmir even when they have been in power both at the Centre and the state, and alleged that there has been lack of governance in the state under them.

"What we are seeing everyday is homilies, preachings, lectures, sermons being given by none less than high government functionaries to which the entire country, in a bemused, amused manner asks itself and the nation asks that whom are you giving lectures to," he said.

"Be it casualties, violence, lack of governance, lack of decision making, lack of co-ordination, security scenario different departments and ministers pulling in directions, no consistency of policy etc. Etc. In 36 months we have seen the most rapid decline," he said.

Singh said the Congress has also been in power for 10 years in Kashmir amid external infiltrations, "but never before have we seen this kind of tragic state of affairs which makes the heart of every Indian bleed".

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the role of Lashker-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA named the two in its Preliminary Enquiry (PE), which precedes the filing of a case. It also named Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)